India tests nuclear-capable missile (Roundup)

May 17, 2010, 9:23 GMT

New Delhi - India on Monday successfully tested its nuclear-capable Agni II ballistic missile, defence officials said.

The surface-to-surface missile with a range of 2,000 kilometres was launched off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa.

'The vehicle was tracked by various downrange stations. All mission objectives have been met,' Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said in New Delhi.

Data generated during the testing was being analyzed, he added.

The medium-range missile can carry a nuclear payload of up to 1,000 kilograms and is part of India's strategic nuclear deterrence programme.

The first trial of Agni-II was carried out in 1999.

Although some subsequent trials were successful, the last two tests of the missile in November and May 2009 were described as failures.

Defence scientists said defects in the missile had been addressed.

Agni means fire in Hindi. The Agni II missile weighs 17 tons and measures about 20 metres in length. It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers.

The Agni I missile has a range of 750 kilometres, and the Agni III can reach 3,500 kilometres, officials said.

The Agni III tests have propelled India into a group of countries having intermediate-range ballistic missile capabilities, defined as 3,000 to 5,000 kilometres.

Defence analysts say the Agni systems are significant for India's nuclear deterrence programme, particularly with regard to its neighbours.

Since its independence in 1947, India has fought three wars with Pakistan and one with China. Both Pakistan and China have nuclear-capable missiles.